best TV tuner Card

deejer

Im looking at getting a card for my new HTPC build and I am wondering what is the best card I can buy that will cover all formats and record two channels like the sky box. Im a bit clueless when it comes to all the different types

Told my girlfriend there is no way we are getting sky as I am not giving them Eur30 quid every month (think thats what is is). Willing to spend a few quid on it so open to suggestions. I have heard the blackgold BGT3600 is one of the best but is there any other similar options

Thanks for the help!

squonk

If you're not getting Sky you could also consider getting a Humax satelite box which does everything a Sky box does except with freeview. You can record 2 channels on the one I've got. If you want to go cards though you'll have other options and I can't advise on taht.

deejer

interesting never actually came across that before.

Would you recommend em?

keithclancy

I've build a HTPC using an old HP DX2300.

Using Mediaportal with a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-4000

Have DVB-S2, Analog and DVB-T working just fine.

Plus a full EPG for Freesat Although i'm pulling this from Sky.

Heres what it looked like 1 year ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g51tzcqhWrs

Much more refined now though, and I can stream to my phone or Android tablet without problems.

The latest build of Mediaportal rivals XBMC these days



Tons of plugins available for online content too.

johnybean

Nice setup Keith!!
I have been researching building a htpc for ages and it is really hard to find a good Mediaportal setup like yours as most of the forums are U.S. based and as such they have to use xbmc pvr build or WMC for their live tv due to the broadcast differences so it is great to see swomeone actually having and using mediaportal as a pvr solution. I have xbmc on my laptop at the moment until I actually get around to the proper build and I love the customisability(look at me ma, I'm making up words!!) and I was gonna hold out for the next xbmc stable release (Frodo?) as they are talking about including PVR in that one but then I can across Mediaportal and it seems to tick all the boxes!
Keith, are you getting Saorview HD and how do you find it in day to day use and do you have the sky+ factor?(Pause, record etc) as I think this is one of the best features of Mediaportal, ie the ability to pause, record multiple muxes from a single source. With WMC or XBMC PVR you need am input for each source so for SKy+ functionality you either need two T/T2 tuners and 2 S/S2 tuners in order to record from one source while watching another but with MEdiaportal you can split 1 source into 4 inputs which basically means that you can record 3 programmes and wwatch one live programme from a single tuner(In theory, maybe Keith can clarify/confirm)
I have xbmc on my laptop at the moiment which is connected to 40" and its all good but I dont have any TV functionality as of yet. I recently installed Mediaportal on the same laptop just to see what it was like and I found it very slow to start up initially and also kind of slow to transition between menus and different movie info etc. This could be down to my laptop (HP with Dual core T4400 @2.2 GHz but I am not sure.
Here is an excellent step by step guide on installing Mediaportal, give it a try and see what you think
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1410346/mediaportal-1-2-x-install-and-setup-guide
Once again, sweet setup Keith

Robotchinchin

How's it going guys? Just wondering do you need a seperate sound card to run the tv tuner card? Cheers!